Stay safe - stay out of quarries

The remote disused quarry in rural Co Down, Northern Ireland, where Colin Polland died in a bid to save Kevin O'Hare 15, who got into difficulties when swimming in the quarry, but also died. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday June 2, 2013. Colin Polland is understood to have jumped into the water at the isolated quarry to save Kevin O'Hare, who had got into difficulties when swimming. Paul Faith/PA Wire

Just over a year after the death of Dromara teenager Kevin O’Hare whilst swimming in a quarry, local people have been reminded to stay away from such sites.

The warning comes from the Mineral Products Association which has said local people should exercise extreme caution around disused quarries.

In July 2013, fifteen-year-old Kevin drowned after getting into difficulties at Paul’s Quarry on the outskirts of Annalong.

Colin Polland, who was on holiday from England, jumped into the water at the isolated quarry in an attempt to rescue the teenager but also drowned.

Elizabeth Clements form the Mineral Products Association said: “Quarry operators know that the warmer weather heralds an increase in young people and adults entering quarries uninvited with potentially tragic consequences.

“With the start of the school summer holidays and warmer weather, the Mineral Products Association (MPA) is keen to ensure that these risks are better understood and to appeal to parents to ensure that their youngsters are not tempted to enter into local quarries uninvited.

“With over 1,300 active quarries and many more former sites located across the UK, there is a high probability that anyone reading this will live within a few miles of one of these sites.

“Our Stay Safe campaign is supported by the parents’ of teenagers who have died in quarry accidents. They believe that their sons might still be alive today if they had understood the risks they were taking.

“Quarry lakes or other open water like reservoirs may look inviting but the temperature of the water can be icy cold, extremely deep and conceal unexpected hazards such as currents, pumps, weeds or obstacles hidden beneath the water.

“The impact that cold water can have on one’s body can result in even very experienced swimmers suddenly finding themselves in trouble and the water can be difficult to exit.

“Other dangers people expose themselves to include unstable or concealed cliff edges that could give way, falling rocks, stockpiles that can collapse when children tunnel into them and settling ponds that can act like quicksand. Quad and trail biking in quarries exposes riders to the risks from unstable ground suddenly collapsing or being hit by plant or machinery.

“I would urge parents and others to view and share our Facebook page Stay Safe Stay Out of Quarries with others.

“Our message is simple - unless you are invited on an organised visit by the quarry operator – Please Stay Safe ...Stay Out of quarries.”